U17 World Championships: Sitender matches Sushil's feat as India end with 13 medals
Sitender Malik defended his 60kg crown at the U17 World Championships, beating Russia's Sergei Karmrian 3-1 in Baku. The gold made him only the second Indian male freestyle wrestler after Sushil Kumar to win two cadet world titles.
India's freestyle wrestling contingent concluded their campaign on a highly positive note at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, headlined by an electrifying gold medal victory that evoked memories of Indian wrestling royalty. With three final-day podium finishes, India's overall medal tally across women's wrestling and men's freestyle swelled to an impressive 13 medals.
The undeniable story of the championships was 17-year-old Sitender Malik in the 60kg division. Defending his U17 world title from 2025, Sitender squared off against Russia's Sergei Karmrian in a tense championship bout. Delivering a masterclass in composed, clinical wrestling, the young Indian secured a 3-1 victory to capture the gold medal.
This historic triumph elevates Sitender into the rarest of company. He etched his name into the history books as only the second Indian male freestyle wrestler to win two U17/Cadet World titles. The incredible feat mirrors the early career trajectory of Indian wrestling legend and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who won his Cadet World titles in 1998 and 1999. The return of such dominance at the cadet level has sent ripples of excitement throughout the Indian sporting fraternity.
In the 45kg category, Hanumant Rajendra Jadhav showcased exceptional agility and technique in his bronze medal playoff. The Maharashtra grappler dominated Iran's Mahdi Davoud Damercheli to register a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Adding a third medal on the final day, Saksham FNU engaged in a tightly contested 92kg bronze medal match against another Iranian opponent, Mohammad Reza Behrang Isazadeh. Displaying solid defensive composure in the clutch moments, Saksham edged out a thrilling 3-2 victory on points (VPO1) to take home the bronze.
With the conclusion of the men's freestyle competition, the curtains have officially come down on the 2026 U17 World Championships.
India's freestyle wrestling contingent concluded their campaign on a highly positive note at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, headlined by an electrifying gold medal victory that evoked memories of Indian wrestling royalty. With three final-day podium finishes, India's overall medal tally across women's wrestling and men's freestyle swelled to an impressive 13 medals.
The undeniable story of the championships was 17-year-old Sitender Malik in the 60kg division. Defending his U17 world title from 2025, Sitender squared off against Russia's Sergei Karmrian in a tense championship bout. Delivering a masterclass in composed, clinical wrestling, the young Indian secured a 3-1 victory to capture the gold medal.
This historic triumph elevates Sitender into the rarest of company. He etched his name into the history books as only the second Indian male freestyle wrestler to win two U17/Cadet World titles. The incredible feat mirrors the early career trajectory of Indian wrestling legend and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who won his Cadet World titles in 1998 and 1999. The return of such dominance at the cadet level has sent ripples of excitement throughout the Indian sporting fraternity.
In the 45kg category, Hanumant Rajendra Jadhav showcased exceptional agility and technique in his bronze medal playoff. The Maharashtra grappler dominated Iran's Mahdi Davoud Damercheli to register a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Adding a third medal on the final day, Saksham FNU engaged in a tightly contested 92kg bronze medal match against another Iranian opponent, Mohammad Reza Behrang Isazadeh. Displaying solid defensive composure in the clutch moments, Saksham edged out a thrilling 3-2 victory on points (VPO1) to take home the bronze.
With the conclusion of the men's freestyle competition, the curtains have officially come down on the 2026 U17 World Championships.
India's freestyle wrestling contingent concluded their campaign on a highly positive note at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, headlined by an electrifying gold medal victory that evoked memories of Indian wrestling royalty. With three final-day podium finishes, India's overall medal tally across women's wrestling and men's freestyle swelled to an impressive 13 medals.
The undeniable story of the championships was 17-year-old Sitender Malik in the 60kg division. Defending his U17 world title from 2025, Sitender squared off against Russia's Sergei Karmrian in a tense championship bout. Delivering a masterclass in composed, clinical wrestling, the young Indian secured a 3-1 victory to capture the gold medal.
This historic triumph elevates Sitender into the rarest of company. He etched his name into the history books as only the second Indian male freestyle wrestler to win two U17/Cadet World titles. The incredible feat mirrors the early career trajectory of Indian wrestling legend and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who won his Cadet World titles in 1998 and 1999. The return of such dominance at the cadet level has sent ripples of excitement throughout the Indian sporting fraternity.
In the 45kg category, Hanumant Rajendra Jadhav showcased exceptional agility and technique in his bronze medal playoff. The Maharashtra grappler dominated Iran's Mahdi Davoud Damercheli to register a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Adding a third medal on the final day, Saksham FNU engaged in a tightly contested 92kg bronze medal match against another Iranian opponent, Mohammad Reza Behrang Isazadeh. Displaying solid defensive composure in the clutch moments, Saksham edged out a thrilling 3-2 victory on points (VPO1) to take home the bronze.
With the conclusion of the men's freestyle competition, the curtains have officially come down on the 2026 U17 World Championships.
